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POSTED: 23 Feb 2010
SUMMER INTERNSHIPS
with
the Farmscape Ecology Program, Hawthorne Valley Farm, Ghent, NY.
May – August/December
2010 (3 to 9 months total, exact dates are flexible)
Deadline: We
are no longer accepting applications, but if this sounds interesting
and you're curious about 2011 possibilities, then let us know.
The Farmscape Ecology Program is a
research/outreach organization dedicated to exploring the human and natural
dimensions of the landscape of Columbia County, NY. It does this primarily by conducting
ecological and sociological fieldwork describing our historical, current and
potential future interactions with the land. Study of the ecological interactions
surrounding agriculture has been an important part of our work. By involving
community participants in this research and by sharing the results widely, we
strive to stimulate, facilitate, and inform people’s sense of connection to the
many dimensions of the landscape in which they live. The Farmscape Ecology
Program is part of Hawthorne Valley Association, an educational non-profit, and
is comprised of wildlife ecologist Conrad Vispo, botanist Claudia Knab-Vispo,
and social scientist Anna Duhon.
We are looking for two interns to join
our summer research team: one field ecology intern and one socio-cultural
research intern. The field ecology
intern will work primarily with Conrad, while the socio-cultural research
intern will work primarily with Anna, though there may be areas of
overlap. Both interns will be part of a
summer research team comprising the Farmscape Ecology staff, three interns (one
of whom is already selected), and several volunteers.
The internship is based at Hawthorne
Valley Farm, a 400-acre organic and biodynamic diversified farm located in the
heart of Columbia County, NY, in the northwest corner of Hillsdale. Interns will be expected to work at least
five days per week, including the option of working one day a week in the
Hawthorne Valley Farm gardens (in order to obtain some direct agricultural
experience). Occasional requests for weekend
and after-hours work will occur, though the internship is organized around a 40
to 45-hour workweek.
FOR THE FARMLAND FIELD
ECOLOGY INTERNSHIP APPLICANTS
(3
to 9 month internship):
As sensitive indicators of habitat
quality, as potential pests and beneficials, and as relatively practical
organisms to study, insects can help us explore our interactions with the surrounding
ecology. Some of them (such as butterflies) are even charismatic. Ecological fieldwork
during the 2010 season will focus primarily on insects: what can their
distributions tell us about how we are interacting with the land? And, how can
we use them as tools to stimulate public interest in the regional landscape? At
least some of this insect work will occur in old farm woodlots. These woodlots,
while heavily harvested, may never have been fully cleared and, as such, are potential
refugia for rare plants and animals. This is a new project for us, and the initial
stages will ‘simply’ involve using remote sensing and fieldwork to find study
sites.
Internship
Activities:
Interns will be expected to help with collection and identification of
insects. Some of this work will be ‘catch & release’, but, because of the
difficulty of identifying or otherwise collecting some species, there will be
work with preserved specimens as well. There will related data entry and
processing work (i.e. computer time). There may also be time spent inspecting
aerial photographs and doing site visits in order to locate old farm woodlots
for further study. Participation in other field projects may also be requested
as the need arises. Those interested in a longer internship have the potential
to develop semi-independent projects within our general research priorities.
Desired Qualifications: Applicants should have a strong interest in field
ecology and in the interaction of people and ecology. Self-initiative,
enthusiasm, and the ability to work independently are important as are willingness
to work outside under a variety of conditions and to work and live with others.
Experience with ecological fieldwork, basic computer skills, and familiarity
with GIS are helpful.
FOR THE SOCIO-CULTURAL
RESEARCH INTERNSHIP APPLICANTS
(3
month internship):
The socio-cultural research and
fieldwork will primarily be centered on two ongoing projects: a Community Food
Assessment of Columbia County and an Oral History Project focused on dairy and
livestock farmers. Integral to both of
these projects and the work of FEP overall is a continuing exploration of the
historical context of agriculture in Columbia County.
The goal of the Community Food
Assessment is to help paint a broad picture of the food system in Columbia
County, from production of food, to its distribution, consumption and
accessibility to County residents, and make this information widely available
in a clear and compelling form. The Oral
History Project provides the privileged opportunity of engaging the perspective
of older farmers in Columbia County, and gathering their stories to share with
the community and inform our understanding of such contemporary issues as the
current “dairy crisis.”
Internship
Activities:
The intern will have the opportunity to assist in many different aspects
of these projects, according to the needs of the Program and the intern’s
skills, experience and interests. This
might include assisting in conducting community surveys of the food system;
compiling relevant agricultural, historical and sociological data; creating
interactive food system maps using GIS, facilitating community involvement;
conducting and/or transcribing and processing oral history interviews; and
developing website, print, presentation, and other outreach materials.
Desired Qualifications: Applicants should have a strong interest in
agricultural communities; the ability to be self-guided and work independently;
comfort in interacting with a diverse range of people; and solid research,
computer, and writing skills. Related
academic and work experience is a plus, as is familiarity with using GIS
software.
GENERAL INFORMATION
APPLICABLE TO BOTH INTERNSHIPS
Compensation:
On-farm housing in a newly renovated internship apartment and a $650/month
stipend are provided. Some farm produce
may also be available.
Additional
Information: Information about the farm is
available at www.hawthornevalleyfarm.org;
for more on the Farmscape Ecology Program itself, see www.hawthornevalleyfarm.org/fep.
To
Apply: Please send a CV including contact
information for three references along with a cover letter explaining your
interest in the Program. We request visits to the Farm by prospective
applicants. If you have questions or wish to arrange a visit, please contact
Conrad, Claudia or Anna at 518-672-7500 ext 254 or email (fep "at" hawthornevalleyfarm.org).
Because we are currently in a temporary office, email is the quickest way to
reach us at this point.
For a postable pdf version of this announcement, please click here.
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